HD 702

Elk

Resident licenses

General Elk License

Availability: Over the counter

⚠️ Bull elk is not included in this general license — it requires a separate drawn permit or B-license. See the full regulation text below for details.

Residents buy the General Elk License over the counter; the resident license availability chart (p. 12) lists no application deadline for it, and residents may instead buy a Sportsman's License that includes one.

HD 702 (Yellowstone Pine Hills) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 120.

Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlerless Elk: Late Season Nov 30-Feb 15, 'Only valid on private land.'.

District NOTE: Elk primarily found on private land.

Public access may be difficult and limited.

Elk B licenses 007-00, 700-00 and 799-00 and Elk Permits 702-20, 799-20 and 799-21 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Nonresident licenses

General Elk License

Availability: Draw

⚠️ Bull elk is not included in this general license — it requires a separate drawn permit or B-license. See the full regulation text below for details.

Most nonresidents cannot buy their General Elk License over the counter.

Per 'Elk Licenses & Permits - General Elk License' (p. 16), they must obtain one through the drawing for one of the 17,000 Big Game Combination Licenses, applying in the random lottery drawing by April 1.

The separate NONRESIDENT License and Permit Availability Chart (p. 13) states that the Elk Combination includes a General Elk License and lists 'Elk Combination - Drawing' at $1,112.00, apply by April 1.

HD 702 (Yellowstone Pine Hills) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 120.

Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlerless Elk: Late Season Nov 30-Feb 15, 'Only valid on private land.'.

District NOTE: Elk primarily found on private land.

Public access may be difficult and limited.

Elk B licenses 007-00, 700-00 and 799-00 and Elk Permits 702-20, 799-20 and 799-21 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Other permits and B-licenses may be available for this district — not yet itemized in this dataset.

6+ point bulls: 67 of 99 total bulls harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllSpikeBull6+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025Not published263227767
202477128436.8%91.2%9312.1%8410.9%
2023Not published18465246
202271622030.7%30.4%10414.5%9813.7%
2021Not published224269171

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025Not published216Not published47
202468624135.1%854350.6%
2023Not published153Not published31
202262317828.6%934245.2%
2021Not published171Not published54

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2024.

Mule Deer

Resident licenses

General Deer License

Availability: Over the counter

✅ Includes antlered buck mule deer

Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; the resident license availability chart (p. 12) lists no application deadline for it, and residents may instead buy a Sportsman's License that includes one.

HD 702 (Yellowstone Pine Hills) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 119.

Antlerless Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only valid on private lands.'.

Either-sex White-tailed Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlered Buck Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

District NOTE: Elk primarily found on private land.

Public access may be difficult and limited.

Deer B licenses 007-00 and 007-03 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Nonresident licenses

General Deer License

Availability: Draw

✅ Includes antlered buck mule deer

Most nonresidents cannot buy their general deer license over the counter.

Per 'Deer Licenses & Permits - General Deer License' (p. 15), they must obtain a General Deer License through one of the following drawings: the Big Game (deer and elk) Combination License (17,000 issued), the Deer Combination License (4,600 issued), or a Landowner Sponsored License (2,000 issued); nonresidents can apply for only one of these combo licenses each year, and the random lottery drawing deadline is April 1.

The separate NONRESIDENT License and Permit Availability Chart (p. 13) states that the Deer Combination includes a General Deer License and lists 'Deer Combination - Drawing' at $760.00, apply by April 1.

HD 702 (Yellowstone Pine Hills) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 119.

Antlerless Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only valid on private lands.'.

Either-sex White-tailed Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlered Buck Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

District NOTE: Elk primarily found on private land.

Public access may be difficult and limited.

Deer B licenses 007-00 and 007-03 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Other permits and B-licenses may be available for this district — not yet itemized in this dataset.

4+ point mule deer bucks: 386 of 560 mule deer bucks harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllBuck4+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025174063136.3%56032.2%38622.2%
2024Not published819729459
2023202879839.3%73736.3%57128.2%
2022Not published875739585
2021184279743.3%63534.5%46125%

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025125736629.1%48326554.9%
2024Not published472Not published347
2023135040329.9%67839558.3%
2022Not published521Not published354
2021122047438.9%62232452.1%

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.